Sign



D. N. ESTES Aug. 9, 1938.

SIGN

Filled Sept. 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Inventor lwvz'ziNEsz es Aiiorneus D. N. ESTES Aug. 9, 1938.

SIGN

Filed Sept. 11, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor fivaa? N 35565 By 4 m Attorneys Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in sign construction and more particularly to signs of the neon or other rare gas type.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a sign construction of the neon tube type wherein the neon tubes need not be supported by spacers from the back board structure in view of the construction of the back board of insulating material, to the end that the neon tubes can be placed directly in contact with the back board, thus giving a better effect in advertising and greatly simplifying the assembling of signs of this character.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a sign wherein a panel of insulation such as glass is employed for supporting the neon tube and wherein additional neon tubes can be positioned rearwardly of the transparent or translucent panel for effecting a dual lighting display.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a sign construction which will be effective both in daylight and at night, as an 25 advertising medium.

These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of a sign constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the sign.

35 Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view showing a modified form of two fastening means.

40 Figure 5 is an end elevational view with a portion broken away to disclose the two panels and tubes thereon.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a modified form of sign.

45 Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen in Figure 1 and in Figure 2, that numeral 5 denotes the sign casing which at its front portion is provided with internal cleats 6, 1 and 8 for support- 50 ing the panels 9 and 9a in close spaced relation, this, of course, with the assistance of the rim Ill.

The panel 9 is preferably of, opaque material while the panel 90. is also opaque excepting for the characters II which are preferably sand- 55 blasted in form.

The characters II on the outer side of the panel 9a are outlined by the external neon tube l2, while on the front of the panel 9 the internal neon tube I3 is formed in single line characters as shown in Figure 5 so as to back up the char- 5 acters ll.

Thus it can be seen that the characters II on the panel 9a will be outlined by the neon tube l2 while light emanating from the internal tube l3 will be visible through the characters H and 10 may be in color, in contrast to the light emanating from the tube l2.

These tubes may be secured in place by wire tie members I4 disposed through openings 15 in the corresponding panel 9 or 9a. with the ends 15 twisted behind the panel as at l 6, or on the other hand the fastening means may be in the form of U-shaped spring clips I! the end portions of which are diverged outwardly as at l8 so that the leg portion may be contracted for insertion into the openings l5a.

A modification of the foregoing is shown in Figure 6 wherein only one panel I9 is employed at the front of the casing 20. In this form of the invention the external tube I2a is secured to the front side of. the panel 19 while the internal tube l3a is secured directly to the inside of the same panel l9, thus eliminating one of the panels in the form of the invention shown in Figure 2.

It is to be understood that both the panels 9a and 9 are preferably of glass or similar material made opaque by coating or otherwise, and from which translucency is obtainable preferably by sand blasting. The object of course, in having glass or similar material is to afford insulation to prevent short-circuiting or arcing of the electrical elements.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be under stood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A sign, comprising a casing, a panel of insulation mounted on the casing, said panel being provided with a character formed translucent portion, a rare gas containing tube disposed on the outside of the panel and out-lining the said character portion, and a second tube at the rear of the panel and behind the said translucent area.

2. A sign comprising, a panel of translucent insulation, a neon tube disposed against one side of the panel and being of a form defining a character, and a second neon tube at the back side of the panel and located immediately behind the said character, and a second panel of opaque 5 insulating material against which the second neon tube is secured.

3. A sign comprising a casing, a. panel of insulation mounted on the casing, said panel being provided with a character formed translucent portion, an electrical luminous discharge container disposed on the outside of the panel and adjoining the said character formed translucent portion, and a source of illumination at the rear of the panel and behind the said translucent portion thereof.

DAVID N. ESTES. 

